Basket liner



Sept. 27, 1932. A, READ, JR 1,879,95Q

BASKET LINER Filed May 11, 1929 l strip near one end thereof, and aPatented Sept. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT orricn FREDERICK A. READ,.13., OF ALBION, SALES COMPANY, OF DENVER,

BASKET LINER Application filed May 11, 1929. Serial No. 362,179.

My invention relates to a basket liner of the type described in thepatent to E. B. Hiatt No. 1,593,302, July 20, 1926. The inventionconsists in making a liner of the general (5 type shown in the saidpatent, and which is ordinarily of cardboard or similar material, in theform of a discontinuous strip, with interengaging portions 0n the endsthereof for temporarily connecting the ends, before the '10 liner ispositioned upon a tray or bottom form and within a reinforcing shell,for packing fruit in the manner disclosed in the patents to E. B. HiattNos. 1,573,341 and 1,603,693.

A slot is formed in the edge of the liner corresponding tongue isprovided at the other end of the strip, and in use the tongue isinserted in the slot and bent backwardly so that it extends across theedge of the liner-end that carries the slot and lies against theadjacent inner face of the other end of the liner. The purpose of thisarrangement is so that when in the packing of fruit according to thewellknown Hiatt method, as set forth in the above-mentioned patents, theliner is filled with fruit, the pressure of the fruit against the tonguewill tend to hold the liner ends together so that the liner is in efiectendless for the purposes of the Hiatt process. After the externallysupported liner has been filled with fruit, the external support for theliner is removed; the pressure of the fruit against the tongue of theliner keeping the ends of the liner in locked relation, as above stated,so that the liner properly supports the eolumn of fruit. And of coursefor the purposes of the Hiatt process it will be understood that thematerial of the liner is such that it possesses sufiicient inherentstrength to hold'the column of fruit without any independentsupportduring the time when the external support has been removed. Aninverted basket is now placed over the liner with its contained columnof fruit, and the whole assembly is inverted, with a jolt which issufficient to either cause the liner to yield in one or more placesthroughout'the body thereof, or cause the tongue to slip in the slot,which permits the liner to adjust itself against -the basket walls andthus allow of the proper settling and compacting of the fruit in thebasket.

The characteristics and advantages invention are further in'connectionwith the following detailed description of the accompanying drawing,which shows one representative embodiment. After considering thisexample, skilled persons will understand that many variations may bemade without departing from the principles disclosed, and I contemplatethe employment of any structures that are properly within the scope ofthe appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a view of the liner in flat or strip form;

Fig. 2 shows the ing tongue inserted the tongue has been bentbackwardly;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the locking tongue bentbackwardly or in looking position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4.4 of Fig. 3.lookii1g inthe direction of the arrows; and Fig. 5

of the suificiently explained in the liner, but before 18 a view partlyin side elevation and partly in" section illustrating a linerconstructed in accordance with my inventionapplied within a basket offruit, the lockihg' tongue being shown in dotted lines. The liner 1consists of a strip of suitable sheet material such as cardboard ofmoderate strength and stiffness, but of such texture or character as toreadily yield and conform to the shape of a fruit basket or vegetablecrate, but at the same time strong enough to properly support a columnof fruit packed therein, as and for the purposes explained in theabove-mentioned Hiatt patents.

The edges 2 of the strip are arcuate to enable it to assume asubstantially conical form, as in Fig. 2, when set up for use. Usually aplurality of ventilating holes 3 are'punched in the strip, andtransverse score lines 4. may also be provided if desired-to facilitatefolding for shipment of the strips in bundles or to facilitate bendingthe strip to conical form. Adjacent one end of the strip, there is aslot 5 paralleling the edge 6, and extending from the other end of theliner strip is a tongue 7 of a width to pass through the slot liner setup with the lock- 5, and of, considerable length. \Vhen the liner is setup in conoidal form as in Figs. 2 and 3, the tongue 7 is passed throughthe slot 5 (Fig. and then bent backwardly so that it assumes theposition shown in Fig. 3. The liner is used in all respects in the sameway as in the liner shown in the Hiatt patents above referred to, and ashereto'lore suggested, the pressure of the column of fruit inside theliner suliices to hold it in shape just as though it were a pasted linerlike the one shown in the Hiatt- Patent No. 1,593,302, when the externalsupport for the liner and its contained fruit is removed, preparatory toplacing a basket over it.

\Vhen the jolting of the fruit takes place, according to the Hiattprocess, even though there should be no slippage of the tongue 7 in theslot 5, which would permit the liner to enlarge its diameter, stillthere Will be sufficient yielding, perhaps even breakage, of the body ofthe liner to permit the fruit to settle and compact itself bothdownwardly and laterally in the basket.

I claim 1. As a new article of manufacture, a split packing liner foruse in packing fruit and the like having the ends adjustably connectedtogether by means whereby a degree of adjustment. of the liner issecured in the application of the liner within a tub whereby expansionand contraction of said liner is allowed to accommodate it to the sizeof the tub, said means serving to maintain the filled liner in shapeafter the tub is removed.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a split packing liner for use inpacking fruit and the like having the ends adjustably connected togetherby means whereby a degree of adjustment of the liner is secured in theapplication of the liner within a tub whereby expansion and contractionof said liner is allowed to accommodate it to the size of the tub,,saidmeans serving to maintain the filled liner in shape after the tub isremoved, said means also allowing contraction and expansion of thefilled liner to accommodate it to the size of the basket appliedthereover after the tub has been removed.

3. As a new article of manufacture, asplit packing liner for use inpacking fruit or the like having the ends adjustably connected toget-herby means integral with and carried by one end portion of the liner andinterlocking with the opposite end portion whereby a degree ofadjustment of the liner is secured in the liner and expansion of saidliner is allowed to accommodate it to the size of the basket, said meansserving to maintain the filled liner in shape before the basket isapplied.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a split packing liner for use inpacking fruit and the like application of a basket around a filledhaving an opening in one end portion, and means integral with andcarried by the opposite end portion of the liner for insertion throughthe opening when the end portions of the liner are in overlappingrelation, said means and opening being so proportioned as to provide adegree of adjustability in. assembling the basket over the filled linerand permitting the liner to accommodate itself to the content andbasket, said means serving to maintain the filled liner in shape beforethe basket is applied.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a split packing liner for use inpacking fruit and the like having the ends adjustably connected togetherby a tongue carriedby one end portion of the liner and a slot in theother end portion of the liner, the tongue being threaded through theslot and capable of slipping therein whereby a degree of adj ustment ofthe liner is secured in the application of a basket around a filledliner and expansion of said liner is allowed to accommodate it to thesize of the basket, said tongue and slot connection serving to maintainthe filled liner in shape before the basket is apied.

p In testimony whereof I afiixmy signature.

FREDERICK A. READ,JR.

